Like a lot of adaptations, it’s better suited for readers of the book. This is a free-form adaptation too, not interested in complete kowtowing to the material and changing the proceedings significantly. It’s an approach that I can appreciate-at times even prefer-in the often doggy sub genre, but the film is anything but subtle. Landscapes explode with fantasy dressings and every major character action (that was kept) from the book is blown up to comical proportions. Perhaps meant to show the severity of the conflict, these expensive flourishes drown much of the inherent drama. Production design rules here. Beautiful to behold and an easy recommendation for fans of Peter Jackson’s earlier and more experimental work.